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5 things you missed: The new Google Maps, Amazon virtual currency, more

By Dan Lewis, Digital First Media

Updated:
02/19/2014 04:05:37 PM EST

The Google Maps app is seen on an Apple iPhone 4S on December 13, 2012 in Fairfax, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

1. Google Maps in Beta no more

Google Maps has finally ended their beta period, unrolling the new Google Maps product to millions of desktops around the world. The new product has been in beta since May 2013 – needless to say, the new version has made us all long in the tooth waiting for it.

The new product is aimed at helping users make smarter decisions about where they are going and how they are going to get there. The live traffic tool should be a great feature for anyone who has ever been in a traffic jam.

Google Maps beta wasn't the only neat tech product to launch last May — Amazon Coins also made their debut around that time. Since then, Kindle Fire users were able to use the virtual currency to buy apps and games at a discount.

An update to the Amazon App Store should unlock the capability for Android users to purchase coins, but for now, the feature is still not available for iOS.

A new startup called Loop thinks is has found an answer to the question, “Can I replace my credit and debit cards with my phone?”

Loop has created an app, complete with two pieces of hardware, the Loop Fob and the Loop ChargeCase, to help customers pay electronically instead of via card. The app lets users choose which card they like, then the Fob is pressed against the card reader and sends out a magnetic signal via Near Field Communication (NFC) that triggers the transaction.

Life's tough when you don't have the latest phone. All your friends have the newest tech, you're stuck with this crappy phone with no battery life and a cracked screen. Plus, the early upgrade options from the major carriers sound like great deals, right?

Wrong. Most of the early upgrade plans are still more expensive than the average two-year contract.

It is worth it to read what each plan offers, to make an educated decision, but if you were hoping to save money and get the latest phone, the search isn't quite over yet.

Nokia on Wednesday unveiled a new mobile accessory designed to limit your chances of losing your valuables. Dubbed the “Treasure Tag,” this matchbox-sized accessory teams up with Nokia Lumia phones to act as an audio reminder to not forget things.

For example, hook a Treasure Tag up to your keys, then try leaving the house with your keys but without your phone. The tag will emit a sound that will continue until you find your phone and turn off the alarm. The notification works the opposite way as well, meaning you can program things that you just can't be without.

ODESSA, Texas (AP) — A West Texas man has been charged with impersonating an officer by using sirens and flashing lights to skip to the head of the drive-thru line at a fast-food restaurant. Full Story